Courtney Hears a Who?
June 6, 2008
Courtney Hears a Who?
An Unscheduled visit to The Fear of Illness and Disease
Before I finished the article on The Fear of Illness and Disease and before I decided to post it up for all of you to read, I wanted to go back and read some of Napoleon Hill’s thoughts on the subject. After reading his ideas, I decided I needed just a little more and went on to read Atkinson and Coue. All three authors seemed to have manipulated our innate fears of illness and disease through the same experiment. They called it a study and today we may call it a prank but either way it went something like this:
The experiments started by first eliciting the help of three comrades (they called them colleagues). These colleagues visited the same person (called the victim) three times during the same day. Each colleague visited once; for a total of three visits. This was conducted over a few short hours on the same day but with varying degrees of time between the visits. Each time one of the colleagues visited the victim the same question was asked of the victim; “What ails you? You look terribly Ill!”
The first questioner received an answer similar to this one: “Oh Nothing, I am all right,” and they both continued on their way. When the second colleague came around and asked the same question; “What ails you? You look terribly Ill!” The answers were much more like “I am not quite sure, but I do feel under the weather.” The third time the question was asked it was always answered “I really do feel quite ill;” or something to that effect.
Now I really did have my doubts. First, these experiments are a bit old, done between 1912 ands 1950; and we have come a long way baby… right? And more so, people are supposed to be more in tune with themselves now, when compared to way back then…right? Boy was I wrong with that thought process; and I am really sorry Courtney, I hope your “feeling” better.
Yes, I did it. My local coffee shop’s Barista-girl went home around one this afternoon and according to her, “did not feel well at all, very tired actually.”
I walked in this morning like I do every other day; with a smile and a “good morning” for the young woman behind the counter. Only difference was today, when I approached the counter I said, “Courtney, wow, tough night last night? Baby Keeping you up, you really look bad this morning, sorry,” and I smiled. She said she feels pretty good and glad that today is Friday, so she only has to work until three. I took my coffee and walked out. I had two accomplices also do to Courtney what I did, which in fact is almost exactly what Hill, Atkinson and Coue did. The second time around “I don’t know, I kinda feel tired and a bit run down, maybe I am coming down with something, I am not sure,” was the answer to the very question/comment I made only an hour before. And by the time colleague number three had posed the exact same question to Courtney, she was flushed, and she decided that she really did not feel well at all, and had to go home early.
(Colleague number three is the Owner of said coffee shop and was in on this experiment with me from the beginning. So Courtney did not lose any pay, and I just go off the phone with her boss, who spilled the beans to Courtney, who may be a bit mad at us all, but all of a sudden feeling all the better. )
Yes, I agree, it was mean and I owe Courtney an apology and probably need to take her out for a lunch, but it was a successful experiment.
Try it on an acquaintance of your own, if you doubt it - but you may not want to let it go quite as far.
It is great evidence that suggestion and auto suggestion are two mighty powerful forces when it comes to making us do things. Now we need to look at how exactly we can use these for positive effects on our Ya-ttitude!
When we meet again - I will go into the signs that point to the fact that you may be suffering and how to understand, control and eliminate these fears!
Next time:
Defining The Fear of Ill Health and Disease and eliminating it!
The Hypochondriac’s Oath
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44 Responses to “Courtney Hears a Who?”
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Ha! I knew it, so when we wonder why America is gaining weight….well, along with my own opinions… I now have this one to add… After reading for the millionth time how Americans are obese, well…what are Americans to do….well…become obese! Ha. I am on to the evil plan now.
Actually, I totally agree with this.. I have always believed that words are very powerful, written or spoken, they can make or break a person, and have the power of life and death… But meanwhile…
Now! I am going after the fresh young thing who keeps greeting me with “how are you doing? (simper, simper) you look so tired!” Humph! I’ll show this young’un a thing or two about vibrant energy.
Benny, great post! May I suggest you give Courtney some extra “lovin” in the positive direction, now, and recruit about 20, or so, accomplices for this task. Then, not only will Courtney be back on cloud 9, you will have the content for another dynamic post in the future.
@ K Fields - That’s the spirit. And you are correct. In my recent past posts I talk about not watching the news because of the effect it has on people, this is just proof positive.
http://ya-ttitude.com/blog/2008/05/26/fear-i-ain%e2%80%99t-scared-of-no-poverty/
The beauty about this is it proves that our thoughts control us and if we think positive we will be positive and give back positive - the opposite should not be an option.
@Outside My Brain - Dude it was already part of the plan. Of course I owe her big, she was my “victim” and I may have ruined her day as well. But - she will be showered with positive this week, that is a “for sure!” And then - well - the next great experiment?
Once again proves - what you think about you bring about. Want to change your life change your thinking…. Excellent post Benny
What the mind believes the person will achieve… Hill looking real good on this post. Now make sure those thoughts are positive thoughts.
Well Benny I have to admit you are good at what you do.
I have had that done to me several times in one day, over a matter of a few months. Course the Chemo didn’t help.
Truth be known I never let it bother me. Fact was if I was up and about and met people, then I was feeling good at the time. If I felt like crap I was home on the couch.
Doesn’t fizz me anymore when someone tells me I look awful.
Guess I am just one of the weird ones out there. LOL
Well you know What Wendy - You have it right.
——————-
No one can cause you to have any kind of emotional reaction without your first giving them permission to do so. You alone are responsible for your feelings and emotions. When you know what you plan to do with your life, you will not allow annoying situations to deter you from your goals for long. If you set ambitious goals for yourself and work enthusiastically toward them, you will quickly realize that you don’t have time to allow petty annoyances to upset you and keep you from your objectives.
———–
If you can control your thoughts - be in control - allow the faith inyourself to be the prevelant emotion - then you win and no one can make you feel anyway other than how you want to feel!
This is the classic example that people just believe what we tell them for the most part. If someone isn’t actually sick and I tell them they are fine based off their labs…then they are all better!
Am I a miracle healer? Not so much…people just need reassurance.
I also believe the converse of this is true. If you take the time to really see someone’s potential you can do a lot for them by telling them that they are amazing at something. People need to hear that kind of stuff!
@Dr. Nicole: That is going to be part the issue I tackle on the next post. The fear of Disease and Illness also has some roots based in those who would rather we do not feel “all that well” and are out there pushing their
Apothecary cures
… and making money for themselves as they work to make those who fall prey to the fear - their victim…
It is why I like your nature-heals-philosophy -
Ben
Words have no power. It’s our choice of response to words that either imbues them with power or deprives them of it. As you keep pointing out we have to give permission to others for their words to have any effect on our own emotions.
@TimeThief - You see that is where you are incorrect; Words have immense power. As noted - negative words alone were enough to turn a good day into a bad one. And positive words can do the exact opposite; making bad days great ones! Not all of us are able to look within ourselves and find the power to control our emotions. So we have to pay close attention to the words that are spoken to us - and then control our emotions and actions accordingly!
Check out: http://ya-ttitude.com/blog/2008/04/02/ya-ttitude-give-and-take/
Benny,
As First Lady Roosevelt used to say that no one can make you feel low self-esteem without your permission. It applies a great deal in this article. I really enjoyed it.
Shilpan
@Shilpan - You are correct Sir, but as with TimeThief - the issue is those of us who cannot stop the words of others from ruining our days and our lives. Focus and control and concentration will be the foundation of that protection!
This just proves that what we hear can affect our well being for the good or the bad. Please give Courtney some flowers, not as a get well soon, but thank you for being so swell.
Courtney will be wll taken care of come Monday morning - but you are so correct. That is why you need to read this:
http://ya-ttitude.com/blog/2008/02/28/the-4-step-plan-to-success/
and really pay close attention to number THREE!
Your mind tightly close to all negative influence. Those negative influences can come from places you least expect; friends, family and acquaintances.
great post
Thanks April…
Your last post was hilarious…
So - why is this a great post?
I’d have to echo agreement with Dr. Nicole. In working with psychiatric patients and patients/clients in general, encouragement goes a long way. It is a known phenomenon for those of us that went to Nursing or medical school that while studying various subjects on illness, a lot of us ended up at the doctor’s office with various “subjective symptoms” incredibly related to that which we were studying at the time..lol..Doctors in the emergency room would talk about it, chuckle, and remember their own days at school where they did the exact same thing. Upon hearing that we were fine, we were “better”. Hehe
@Pentad: I am actually using your example in an upcoming post in two ways. I have spoken to many nurses/doctors - and they all say that they have contracted all the “symptoms” during school but as well - could never do their jobs with any fear of illness or disease. They believe because they do not fear the disease or the illness they are actually keeping them away…
Great post, as always. These experiments have been the foundation of a lot of my ideas on the legitimacy of major health issues (physical and mental)… although I usually keep my mouth shut, ’cause a lot of people don’t take too well to being told they’re responsible for their own lives.
@Shadow… Then you need to speak up and let the world hear your thoughts! Do not let others come up with your thoughts later, as you have them now!
One of your best posts, Benny. I’ve always believed in the power of the mind. I don’t think scientists have even scratched the surface of what the mind is capable of. About 20 years ago, my friend’s son had “terminal” cancer and a year to live. He is really an expert in positive thinking/visualization. Through these techniques, he believes he willed the cancer away, which I personally believe is possible.
Have you ever read Emile Coue? {Self Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion}
If not you might want to give it serious thought. First time I read through this - it was silly and ridiculous (I was young), the next time - I found a tremendous amount of value where I could use the ideas in the business world, and then the next time through, I realized that much of it was quite possible - the Mind is an amazing tool - we just need to know how to use it!
Impressive. I am very much going to become completely unethical and try this on someone I know.
As a psychology student, this sort of thing fascinates me!
@Mysterycreature - Just be sure you are ready with the love if you do this. I am flowers, lunch and lots of hugs deep into this. It is an experiment - not a torture treatment - be nice - be positive and be smart!
Hello! Here’s what I got out of it: many (myself included)believe we don’t care about what others think/say etc. In the end, it goes to show-we really do ‘consider’ what is being said or asked about us. What could be telling yourself ” I’m having a great day” to telling yourself ” I want to have a great day” or I wish this day was better… It’s technically no one else’s fault but our own-we have a choice to destruct our mindset or practive positive thinking to the ultimate max**
No matter what anyone thinks/says about us to us.
IT is a great piece here !!! Thank you for posting it!!! A.Rose
My dear Alisha - or Rose as we have come to know and love you…
You are correct… I live by the mantra of “I love myself - and I know myself” - so there really is little you can say or do that will ruin my day or mood. Now - I am human and do live in the real world, so bad days and bad moods happen - c’mon it happens to all of us - why would I be any different. But being able to be aware and able to control yourself helps dramatically!
The power of suggestion is awesome beyond what others may think.
Thirty years ago, I was in the hospital waitng for my labor pains to begin again. The anesthesiologist came into my room, and asked if I had anything to eat that morning. I replied, just a half cup of coffee, and half a doughnut.
Hmmm, he says, I can’t give you the anesthetic I was planning on.
Why? I asked.
Because, he says, you could throw up and aspirate, and could die.
He leaves the hospital, saying he’d be back in time for the delivery.
Next thing I know the labor strated, and they wisk me away into the delivery room, A mask is put over my face, and the next thing is, I am floating down a tunnel of light. Asking those I see, if I am dead. No one seemd to see me, so i said to myslef, I must be dead!
Someone is far off calling my name, I feel slaps on my face.
When I opened my eyes, the doctor asked me what the heck happened. He said, my heart had stopped, and they thought they had lost me.
I told the doctor what the anesthesiologist had told me. He swore, and said, he should never had told you that. WE really thought we’d lost you.
So, you see even though I was in the best of health, the power of the anesthesiologist’s words had the power to do me in.
Our thoughts about how we feel, have power, also.
Now go read my blog. It could use some clicks and comments:
http://mysticsilks.blogspot.com/
Thank you,
Mystic Silks
@ Mystic - Wow that was an incredible story. It does show you how the conscious mind works on the sub conscious mind and then the sub conscious mind really works on us from deep inside.
I am glad it all turned out great…
And YES - Go show her site some love!
Ben
Great post, absolutely agree. Words are so powerful and they can make you a winner or a loser, can make you feel loved or hated. The mind is very powerful indeed, we only need to remember what Lance Armstrong went through. He had testicular cancer that spread to his lungs and brain, and with the power of his will and mind he defeated it. The mind is a powerful thing, isn’t it?
@ Livingstrong - Our minds are really the only thing that we can control, never allow someone else to have control over you. Much can be accomplished when you can control your thoughts, your mind and yourself!
Great experiment, yes, you do owe that girl a lunch! It’s amazing what the power of words can do.. words are engrained in us, they become part of our fiber, and they are a tough thing to shake, when they are negative in nature.
@ Susie - It IS amazing how people will Believe the negative words so much more easily than the positive ones. When someone is told they look ill - they tend to believe it - when someone says you look great - they tend not to believe them…
Ya-ttitude-adjustments are needed!
Thats why I’d only try it on someone I know - so that I’m there and ready to make it up to them! I’m a good un really!
@ Mystery - That is good to know. That is also why I was able to do this with Courtney. We have been friends for a few months. So I have the ability to make up WITH HER for what it was I did to the poor girl.
Hi Benny,
Our recent review of Dr. Nicole’s blog on DoYouDiggIt led me to you; your insight is inspiring.
You’ve recently been reviewed on DiggIt as well. You can see your post here:
http://www.doyoudiggit.com/self-improvement/informally-approaching-positivity-ya-ttitudecom
Please stop by and have a look, and maybe give your Diggs a jump start. Anyone else who wants to support Benny or Dr. Nicole is welcome to stop in and vote too!
I love this Benny! As Hill says, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can acheive.” and “You have the power to take possession of your mind and direct it to whatever end you desire.” As he also says, this “the greatest gift of the Creator for it is the only thing over which we have complete control.”
We have the power to make ourselves ill simply by fearing it because we make it a reality. Could the opposite be true as well?
As you and Shilpan well said, “no one can make you feel low self-esteem without your permission.” No one, including ourselves, can make us feel anything without our permission.
You may find this post helpful:
http://principlesforpeace.com/?p=54
BTW I like the new layout!
Interesting experiment Benny…words can be far more detrimental to the mind than physical trauma to the body! The damage often staying well into adulthood…we should be very careful how we speak to children!
I try very hard to believe in myself, be positive, digesting as little negative info as possible.
People need realize they have all the power inside themselves…once they learn how to control their own thoughts and emotions…the way they react to others will change!
Challenging but worth it!
I’m sure Courtney will for give you… :0)
Cheers
The untapped power of the mind fascinates me. Enjoyed the post immensely.
@Jennifer - You are in charge of your thoughts and your feelings - never give them away to anyone else to control!
@Heather - I mentioned the “sticks and stones”: thing a few posts ago. Those words do some massive harm, and are around long after the bruises and cuts heal. We must be even more careful when we deal with children - check out my post on criticism…
http://ya-ttitude.com/blog/2008/06/01/fear-criticism-and-embarrassment-%e2%80%93-be-gone/
@Dr. Rob - The mind is a fascinating. There is just so much untapped information there - People have been studying and working with it forever - yet we have not even scratched the tip of the iceberg, much less seen the tip…
[…] where there was not one before, or where there is no reason for one to exist. Just ask the now Famous Courtney of Courtney Hears a Who? I believe that experiment drove home a very interesting point. And on a related note, just […]
What would you call that, Benny? the placebo effect without pills?
Or, maybe the power of suggestion? As simple as that. Any recourse, do you think? Any automatic defense mechanism? Would be interesting to learn whether anybody had ever experimented with a “cure.”
Hey Jack - thanks for the visit - It is definitely suggestion - and then auto-suggestion as you tell yourself that you are ill - when you are not. It is the anti-placebo! As it is harmful if swallowed.
The recourse it understanding yourself - and knowing yourself with the ability to focus. Those thoughts and feelings that are yours; well do not allow anyone else the power to change them!